A lip augmentation procedure is performed to improve the shape, size and overall contour of the lips relative to the other features of the face. The most common approach used for lip enhancement is injecting dermal fillers because they are non-invasive and involve little to no downtime. Other techniques include fat transfer, lip implants and a lip lift which offer results that are more permanent in nature. As a result, the price of lip augmentation can greatly vary between $500-$10,000 depending on your location, the expertise of the doctor and the extent of the procedure.
It is best to have a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon perform this procedure as it requires great experience and understanding of how the facial anatomy behaves with cosmetic adjustments. Visiting the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) or the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) to find your doctor is a great place to begin your search.
Results from lip augmentation vary depending on the technique. These days, hyaluronic acids are the most commonly used lip filler and it is also the safest because it is a naturally occurring substance in your body. Since it takes roughly 6 months for the results to go away and there are no known side effects, patients are actually encouraged to return every 2-4 months to maintain optimal results.
For patients looking for more permanent or drastic improvement, there are other alternatives:
Keep in mind that the 3 alternatives listed above increases downtime drastically in comparison to lip fillers. Consult with your doctor to see which technique will be the most beneficial to achieve your specifications.
Finding patient reviews of your doctor is crucial to your search. However, reviews found directly on your doctor’s website can easily be manipulated so it is best to look elsewhere. Many doctors have profiles available on third party website like Yelp which is useful if you are looking for unbiased and first hand reviews by real patients. This still does not guarantee complete transparency so the best thing to do is find a family or friend who has undergone lip enhancement. This way you can get an honest account of what the doctor is like from a trusted source.
Another way is to ask your doctor for before and after photos of previous patients. Ask specifically to see ones that are similar to your case, so that you have a better idea on what your results will be. Quantity trumps quality here so the more photos the doctor has, the more experienced he or she is with lip augmentation.
Before hyaluronic acids, collagen fillers were widely used to enhance the lips. Both are natural compounds found in the body so there are no major side effects. However, older forms of collagen fillers lasted a shorter amount of time than hyaluronic acids. Newer forms of collagen have been introduced with comparable longevity but hyaluronic acid is still more advantageous since the results can be seen immediately as well as reverted by dissolving the filler with an enzyme called hyaluronidase.
There are a few types of hyaluronic acids with the most common being Juvederm Ultra, Restylane and Belotero. Ask your doctor to see which filler is the most advantageous to use in your specific case.
Your consultation is arguably the most important part of your transformation. It is crucial to have your questions ready before you meet your doctor. Here are a few to get you started:
Once you have the answers to your questions, you can discuss scheduling a lip augmentation procedure with your doctor.
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